As of the time of writing this, new comics are not being shipped. You’ve probably heard the story—measures being taken to avoid a contagious disease has led to various companies shutting down, including Diamond, the main (virtually only) distribution company in comics. The future is uncertain in a number of regards but someone at Image was bold enough to declare that June comics will ship on time. And as of now, I admire their optimism! So we’re going to play along and get excited for some new books from our favorite creator-owned publisher. As always, you can see the rest of what Image plans to publish on their official website.
10. Slimy Beginnings
“Walking Dead” will probably always be considered Robert Kirkman’s magnum opus and among his big comics fans, that honor would go to “Invincible.” That puts “Oblivion Song” at number three, but you know what? I think it’s a real contender. It’s the weirdest thing Kirkman has ever written and its shown his talent for intricate mythmaking. That’s what has me excited about this milestone issue, it takes us back to the beginning of the very local apocalypse story. Secret origin baybay!
Oblivion Song By Kirkman & De Felici #25
WRITER: Robert Kirkman
ARTIST: Annalisa Leoni, Lorenzo De Felici
JUNE 10 / 40 pages / FC/ T+ / $4.99CELEBRATING OUR HUGE 25TH ISSUE WITH SPECIAL BONUS CONTENT AND AN ALL-NEW STORY ARC!Nathan Cole’s world has changed. Nothing could have prepared him for what has happened, what he’s had to do, and how it has affected him. Starting now, he embarks on a new journey with a full knowledge of Oblivion and what caused the Transference! The fate of the Earth rests in his capable hands! Also in this issue, a special ORIGIN STORY drawn by series colorist extraordinaire ANNALISA LEONI!
9. Baba Yetu
Oh Kieron Gillen, did you have to solicit your book with wordplay about a Sid Meier quote? Of course you didn’t. But this is why we love you you big nerd. Wordplay and deep cuts. Truly cursed. Truly we are blessed. “Die” is a hell of a comic guys.
Die #12
WRITER: Kieron Gillen
ARTIST / COVER A: Stephanie Hans
COVER B: Justine Frany
JUNE 10 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99“THE GREAT GAME,” Part Two Designer Sid Meier described games as a series of interesting decisions. “May you live in interesting times” is a curse. Both things are true, and both are true here.
8. Overkill
I usually try not to double up on creators in this column, but who can resist a collaboration between Robert Kirkman and Chris Samnee? With Matt Wilson on colors no less. It’s not that Kirkman usually works with bad artists, not by any stretch of the imagination! But it’s rare that he, a pretty Big Deal in the comics world, launches a book with a collaborator who is arguably a bigger deal than he is! And it’s my favorite kind of junk, a pulp supernatural martial arts yarn. It’s being published weirdly (these issues follow the first story, which is only being released in trade). I’m all about this book!
Continued belowFire Power By Kirkman & Samnee #1
WRITER: Robert Kirkman
ARTIST / COVER A: Matthew Wilson, Chris Samnee
JUNE 03 / 36 pages / FC/ T / $3.99ALL-NEW monthly series created by ROBERT KIRKMAN and CHRIS SAMNEE! The one who wields the fire power is destined to save the world, but Owen Johnson has turned his back on that life. He doesn’t want the power—he never did. He only wants to spend time with his family and live his life, but unseen forces are at work to make that impossible. Danger lurks around every corner as Owen’s past comes back to haunt him.
Fire Power By Kirkman & Samnee #2
WRITER: Robert Kirkman
ARTIST / COVER A: Matthew Wilson, Chris Samnee
AUGUST 05 / 28 pages / FC/ T / $3.99Owen Johnson thought he could turn his back on his training, his power, and that dangerous world he never wanted to be a part of. Unfortunately for Owen and his family, the danger has found him, and whether he wants it or not, the FIRE POWER is the only thing that can save them.
7. Calico Jack’s Back
Historical pirates are underused in comics. And this solicit gets me hype for this new series about the Golden Age of Piracy, focusing on everyone’s favorite IRL queer couple/thruple, Mary Reade, Anne Bonny and Calico Jack Rackham. Jack’s an interesting cat because he was a known pretty boy and charmer, but his fearsomeness is heavily debated. Did he leave most of the ass kicking to the terrifying Anne? Was he a debonair duelist in his own right? Or was he an utter fraud and coward, conning his way into his position? Every time this real life story gets retold, we get a different interpretation and that keeps it fun and funky fresh.
A Man Among Ye #2
WRITER: Stephanie Phillips
ARTIST / COVER A: Craig Cermak
JUNE 24 / 32 pages / FC/ T+ / $3.99The adventures of pirate queens Anne Bonny and Mary Read might be over before they begin, as a murderous mutiny sweeps “Calico Jack” Rackham’s crew, forcing Anne and Mary to flee for their lives. Can they survive on the high seas long enough to plot their revenge and gather their own crew?
6. Monocle Focus
The solicits for “Bitter Root” are getting more like Netflix episode descriptions every day. Someone is here to destroy the world, a character we like has to make the “ultimate sacrifice.” Who exactly? Don’t worry about it, it’s someone you like, we promise. In a lesser book, my eyes would glaze over. But “Bitter Root” has delivered with every issue. So know that the hype is real.
Bitter Root #10
WRITER: Chuck Brown, David F. Walker
ARTIST / COVER A: Sanford Greene
COVER B: Francis Vallejo
JUNE 10 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99“RAGE & REDEMPTION,” Part Five Adro is on the cusp of destroying the world as we know it. In order to stop him, a member of the family may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
5. Who asked for this?
Certainly not me! They say not to explain the joke, but I don’t think I could explain Sexual Gary if I wanted to. As with lots of running gags in “Sex Criminals” (not to be confused with the other kinds of gags), it started as a maybe mean, maybe harmless prank, turned into a meme for an extremely narrow group of people, and then took on way more significance than it probably should have. But that’s what the Brimpers like, so it’s thrilling that fans of this wonderful series get something none of them thought they wanted but all of them are delighted to have.
Sex Criminals: Sexual Gary Special
WRITER: Matt Fraction
ARTIST: Enrica Eren Angliolini, Rachael Stott
COVER A: Chip Zdarsky
JUNE 24 / 48 pages / FC/ M / $4.99Remember “Sexual Gary”? What was up with that guy? The brilliant RACHAEL STOTT (Supergirl, Doctor Who) drew a story so crazy it had to be told, but not by Chip, who was still a big part of the whole thing.
4. Daddy’s home
Family relationships in fiction are often used as lazy shorthand, but “Exorsisters” has managed to make everyone’s connection more complicated. The two sisters are not what they seem. Their mother is horrible; either a monster or a coward or both. I hadn’t even thought to question who the Harrow sisters’ dad is, but now that’s what’s up, and I implore you not to underestimate this series. It’s gonna be messed up.
Exorsisters #8
WRITER: Ian Boothby
ARTIST / COVER A: Pete Pantazis, Gisèle Lagacé
COVER B: Michael Shelfer, Anwar Hanano
JUNE 03 / 32 pages / FC/ T+ / $3.99As they continue their fight against the First Shadow, Kate and Cate must ask for assistance from the one person they never wanted to see again—their father.
3. Reform the coven
Do I understand the titles of the arcs in “Black Magick?” I do not. Does Greg Rucka have a problem where every one of his comics is about a muscular queer woman who needs to beat men up in her underwear? Do the math on that one. Is Nicola Scott a gift to comics artistry, and one who I will brave any series for? You bet your ass. Do I ever miss an issue of “Black Magick?” I do not, and neither should you.
Continued belowBlack Magick #12
WRITER: Greg Rucka
ARTIST / COVER A: Nicola Scott
JUNE 24 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99“ASCENSION I,” Part One The acclaimed series returns, from the New York Times bestselling team GREG RUCKA and NICOLA SCOTT (Wonder Woman). Rowan Black is a cop. Rowan Black is also a witch. Throughout her life, she has struggled to keep these things separate. Now, the walls are beginning to crumble, and Rowan—alienated from her friends, under investigation on the job, and stalked by mysterious forces who are literally hell-bent on using Rowan’s power for their own benefit—is on the verge of crumbling with them. And if these combined forces don’t manage to destroy Rowan—she might just destroy herself first.
2. So-called life
I don’t know what it says about me that I often can’t get into slice of life comics. Sounds like something I should talk out with a very patient therapist. But that should indicate that the fact that I’m very into <i>this</i> slice of life comic is big news. What can I say? Sina Grace has written everything from “X-Men” to “Archie” to “Power Rangers” and in all of those series, the best parts were the quiet conflicts between people. Add in the lush and unique art style of Jenny D. Fine, and I’ve got a feeling that this series will find a new angle on stuff you’ve seen a zillion times before.
Getting It Together #1
WRITER: Omar Spahi, Sina Grace
ARTIST: Sina Grace, Jenny D. Fine, Shaun Steven Struble
COVER A: Jenny D. Fine
JUNE 10 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99Newcomer artist JENNY D. FINE shines alongside Marvel Comics’ Iceman writer SINA GRACE and co-creator OMAR SPAHI in the all-new modern dramedy you didn’t know you needed! Sam and Jack are best friends, and Sam is dating Lauren, Jack’s indie rocker sister and roommate. When Sam and Lauren open up their long-term relationship, skyrocketing tensions send social shockwaves through their friend group and the entire Bay Area. And Jack, caught in the middle of it all, may be forced to take sides in a conflict he never wanted to be a part of. Life gets pretty messy when you’re in your 20s and your friends are your family.
1. Runs in the family
If pressed, I would probably describe “Chew” as “gross.” It’s a series where cannibalism is the prologue, and we just go down from there. I also loved “Chew,” but yeah, OK, I was kind of done with it. Then came the “Chew/Outer Darkness” crossover, which reminded me how much I missed the adventures of my favorite cibopathic detective. Never in a million years did I think I’d be putting “Chew” at #1 on my most anticipated comics lists. But this isn’t “Chew.” This is “Chu.”
The original series is about a good guy, a sad sack investigator trying to do the right thing. This one is about his… sister(!!??) who is not good. She’s a bad girl. A criminal. And she needs to share meals with people to learn their secrets. The beautifully written solicit tells the story better than I ever can, but this is the sort of left turn that completely renews my love of the whole series. Now excuse me while I track down all the trades and read the original series again in anticipation!
Chu #1
WRITER: John Layman
ARTIST / COVER A: Dan Boultwood
JUNE 17 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99“THE FIRST COURSE,” Part One TONY CHU is a cibopath, able to get psychic impressions from what he eats. SAFFRON CHU is a cibopars, able to learn secrets from who she eats with. Tony is a cop. Saffron is a criminal. They are brother and sister, and they are on a collision course. Spinning out of the multiple Eisner Award-winning and New York Times bestselling series CHEW comes CHU, a felonious new food noir about cops, crooks, cooks, and clairvoyants.
